Paul Mellon Centre’s Digitisation Grants Program

The Paul Mellon Centre Digitisation Grants provide up to £5,000 to support organisations digitising materials related to British art and making them freely available online. The programme supports archives, photographic collections, publications, artworks, and other collection materials.

Overview of the Paul Mellon Centre Digitisation Grants

The Paul Mellon Centre Digitisation Grants support organisations working to preserve, digitise, and publicly share materials connected to British art.

The programme helps institutions transform physical collections into accessible digital resources that can support:

Research.
Education.
Public engagement.
Wider access to British art collections.

Applicants must demonstrate how their digitisation project will contribute to the study, understanding, and appreciation of British art.

Purpose of the Digitisation Grants

The main aim of the programme is to increase access to important British art resources by supporting high-quality digitisation projects.

The grants seek to:

Preserve valuable collection materials.
Improve online access to research resources.
Support academic and public engagement.
Encourage the use of digital tools in art research.
Expand availability of British art collections globally.

Types of Materials Supported

Funding may support digitisation projects involving materials related to British art, including:

Photographic collections.
Archival materials.
Bound volumes.
Objects and artefacts.
Paintings.
Publications.
Other collection assets.

Projects should focus on materials owned or managed by the applicant organisation.

Funding Details

Successful applicants can receive:

Maximum grant amount: £5,000

The funding may support costs such as:

External digitisation services.
Staff costs for cataloguing and research activities.
Equipment required for digitisation.
Software needed for digitisation processes.

Applicants must provide:

A detailed project budget.
A clear implementation timeline.
Information about expected outcomes.

Digitised materials should normally be made available online within five years of receiving the award.

Who Can Apply?

The programme is open to:

Organisations.
Institutions.
Nonprofit organisations.
Other eligible entities.

Applicants must:

Hold a dedicated business account.
Work with materials from their own collections.
Undertake digitisation and research activities related to British art.

International organisations are also eligible to apply.

Project Requirements

Applicants should provide details about:

The collection materials being digitised.
The importance of the materials to British art research.
The digitisation approach.
The online access plan.
The project budget.
The expected completion timeline.
Referee information.

Making Digitised Materials Available Online

A key requirement of the grant is that digitised resources should be publicly accessible.

Organisations may share materials through:

Their own websites.
Digital collection platforms.
Other appropriate online resources.

The goal is to ensure researchers, students, and the public can benefit from increased access to British art collections.

Application Review Process

Applications are assessed through a two-stage review process.

First Stage Review

Applications are reviewed by a subcommittee of the Paul Mellon Centre Advisory Council.

The review considers:

Project quality.
Relevance to British art.
Digitisation approach.
Public benefit.
Budget and feasibility.

Final Assessment

Highest-scoring applications move forward for review by all Advisory Council members.

Final funding decisions are communicated after completion of the assessment process.

Benefits of the Grant

The Digitisation Grants help organisations:

Preserve important cultural materials.
Increase research accessibility.
Reach international audiences.
Support digital scholarship.
Strengthen knowledge of British art history.

The programme contributes to creating a more open and accessible digital environment for British art research.

Tips for Applicants

Applicants should:

Clearly explain the importance of the collection.
Demonstrate the value of making materials available online.
Provide a realistic project timeline.
Prepare a detailed and justified budget.
Explain how researchers and audiences will use the digitised resources.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Digitisation projects unrelated to British art.
Unclear descriptions of collection materials.
Missing online access plans.
Unrealistic timelines.
Incomplete budgets.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Paul Mellon Centre Digitisation Grants?

The Digitisation Grants provide funding to organisations that digitise British art-related collections and make them freely available online.

How much funding can applicants receive?

Applicants can receive up to £5,000 to support eligible digitisation activities.

What types of collections can be digitised?

The programme supports materials such as archives, photographs, publications, paintings, objects, and other collection assets related to British art.

Who is eligible to apply?

Organisations, institutions, nonprofits, and eligible entities with a dedicated business account can apply.

Can international organisations apply?

Yes. International organisations are eligible to submit applications.

Where should digitised materials be made available?

Digitised resources should be published online through the organisation’s website or another suitable digital platform.

What costs can the grant support?

Funding may support external digitisation services, staff costs for cataloguing or research, and equipment or software required for digitisation.

How are applications evaluated?

Applications are reviewed in two stages by the Paul Mellon Centre Advisory Council and its review subcommittee.

Conclusion

The Paul Mellon Centre Digitisation Grants provide valuable support for organisations working to preserve and share British art collections through digital access. By funding digitisation projects, the programme helps expand research opportunities, improve public access, and ensure important cultural materials are available for future generations.